SEIU Local 26 janitors march for green alternatives

MINNEAPOLIS — Janitors represented by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 26 kicked off their campaign to make green cleaning a reality with a march through downtown Minneapolis on December 5, according to a press release.

By striving to increase the use of green cleaning products with safer chemicals, recycle more waste and support the transition to day-shift cleaning, SEIU Local 26 janitors are hoping to green the greater Minneapolis area, the release stated.

According to the SEIU Local 26, "Day-shift cleaning is a growing trend in the cleaning industry; it can reduce energy use by up to 8 percent and leads to better client satisfaction with a stable, well-trained cleaning staff. And while safer, "green" chemicals are now available at little or no additional cost, there is still pervasive use of more dangerous, conventional cleaning products."

The Green Jobs Green Future campaign has gained the support of environmental organizations including the Blue Green Alliance, the Minnesota Public Interest Research Group (MPIRG) and the Sierra Club, the release noted.

Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak, Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Congressman Keith Ellison joined the janitors and marched in support of adopting green alternatives to toxic cleaning chemicals and increasing recycling efforts, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.